The call came after Brussels ridiculed the UK’s claim that a communications mix-up explained its decision not to join an emergency EU scheme to procure ventilators and other desperately-needed equipment.

Ministers were at meetings when the offer was made, the EU pointed out – fuelling criticism that ministers put ‘Brexit over breathing’, even as Covid-19 cases soared.

The NHS has only 8,000 ventilators – when 30,000 are likely to be needed – and only a further 8,000 are expected to be ready before the expected peak of the epidemic, in mid-April.

No 10 initially said it did not join efforts because “we are no longer members of the EU”, before backtracking after criticism.

It then claimed the UK had missed the procurement deadline due to a “communication problem”, which meant the country was not invited to apply in time.

But a European Commission spokesperson said: “The member states' needs for personal protective equipment have been discussed several times in the meetings of the health security committee where the UK participated.

“At these meetings, the commission stressed its readiness to further support countries with the procurement of medical countermeasures if needed, so member states and the UK had the opportunity to signal their interest to participate in any joint procurements.”